Kenya: Riots in Mombasa After Cleric’s Assassination

Deadly riots broke out in Mombasa, Kenya’s main port, on Monday after the assassination of a radical cleric linked to the Shabab militants in Somalia. At least one person was hacked to death as thousands of protesters took to the streets after the cleric, Aboud Rogo Mohammed was shot to death. “There is chaos in town now,” said the regional police chief, Aggrey Adoli. Witnesses said the attackers riddled Mr. Mohammed’s car with bullets, and a photograph released by his supporters showed his bloody corpse slumped behind the wheel of a car. Mr. Mohammed was placed on a United States sanctions list in July for “engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security or stability of Somalia,” specifically for recruiting and raising money for the Shabab.

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Riots broke out after the cleric, Aboud Rogo Mohammed, was shot to death.Credit
Patrick Olum/Reuters

A version of this brief appears in print on August 28, 2012, on Page A8 of the New York edition with the headline: Kenya: Riots in Mombasa After Cleric’s Assassination. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe